SOBEYS OFFERS TO ACQUIRE OSHAWA GROUP

MONTREAL (FNS) -- Canadian retail consolidation would be heating up if a move last week by Sobeys, Stellarton, Nova Scotia, bears fruit.The supermarket chain wants to acquire Toronto-based Oshawa Group Ltd. Combined sales would rival those of Loblaw Cos. Ltd., also in Toronto, Canada's largest supermarket operator.Empire Co., which operates Sobeys, made an unsolicited offer last week worth about $910